You may have seen a sticker like the one shown below on the front of an electric panel in a newer home. Posting of the warning sticker is one of four requirements by the Energy Code section of the Florida Building Code (FBC 403.3.6) for air handler installation in an attic. The notice has to be in all capital letters, minimum 16-point size, with the title and first paragraph in boldface. Leakage of condensation water when a drain line clogs is the problem that it addresses, along with alerting the homeowner to the presence of an automatic device that will activate when a condensation drain clog occurs.

The other three requirements for installation of an HVAC air hander in an attic by The Florida Energy Code are:

• The service panel face of the air handler must be located within 6 feet of the attic access hatch.
•  The access hatch opening must be big enough to get a replacement air handler into the attic.
•  A device must be installed to alert the homeowner or shut down the unit when the condensation drain clogs. An automatic shut-off device is the usual choice.

These requirements are in addition to the Florida Building Code’s general requirements for installing appliances in attics at 1305.1.3, which you can read about at our blog post What are the building code requirements for installing an appliance (furnace, air handler, water heater) in the attic?

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  To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:

• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner? 

• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong? 

• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner? 

• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump? 

• Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can’t find it? 

• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages? 

• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning? 

• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?

• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank? 

• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while? 

• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough? 

• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?  

• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs? 

   Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.